How to break up with a friend

Be brave. Be fair. Be kind.

Mean Girls
(Image credit: Facebook.com/Mean Girls)

Friendship is complicated. Sometimes it's based on compatibility, common interests, and shared goals and values. Sometimes friendship is more complex and political; people naturally form alliances to further personal agendas. Other good friendships are just a matter of convenience. When the girl next door is the only kid your age within a five-mile radius, chances are you're going to be buddies.

And then life happens. Children grow up. People move away. They marry (or not), have children (or not), divorce (or not). They take up different sports, become foodies, become vegan foodies, discover a previously unrecognized passion for cello, politics, or unusual fraternal organizations. In short, they change.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Leslie Turnbull

Leslie Turnbull is a Harvard-educated anthropologist with over 20 years' experience as a development officer and consultant. She cares for three children, two dogs, and one husband. When not sticking her nose into other peoples' business, she enjoys surfing, cooking, and writing (often bad) poetry.